MarkMan
@madmanmark84.bsky.social
Just another older white guy, 1st-gen college in a purple state & family
I'm not sure what you're asking, because Bradley hasn't resigned.
Are you thinking about Admiral Holsey, head of SOUTHCOM?
Are you thinking about Admiral Holsey, head of SOUTHCOM?
Top admiral steps down abruptly amid drug boat strikes
Adm. Alvin Holsey oversees Southern Command, where US military strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers at sea have ramped up.
www.politico.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
I'm not sure what you're asking, because Bradley hasn't resigned.
Are you thinking about Admiral Holsey, head of SOUTHCOM?
Are you thinking about Admiral Holsey, head of SOUTHCOM?
Yeah, Sacks is yet another member of the "Paypal Mafia" that formed & grew rich around 2000 (Thiel, Musk, Levchek, etc)
This TNR article is over 3 years old now, but still good background
This TNR article is over 3 years old now, but still good background
The Quiet Political Rise of David Sacks, Silicon Valley’s Prophet of Urban Doom
Like his pals Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, Sacks is using his wealth and online clout to unite conservatives and former leftists in a reactionary movement against liberalism.
newrepublic.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Yeah, Sacks is yet another member of the "Paypal Mafia" that formed & grew rich around 2000 (Thiel, Musk, Levchek, etc)
This TNR article is over 3 years old now, but still good background
This TNR article is over 3 years old now, but still good background
ps. vote" part was just a toss-off near the end. Many paragraphs before discussed Nietzsche's "ressentiment" and how it fosters popular support for both this kind of behaviour & authoritarianism in general.
We can't achieve political solutions like impeachment w/o addressing popular sentiment.
We can't achieve political solutions like impeachment w/o addressing popular sentiment.
December 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
ps. vote" part was just a toss-off near the end. Many paragraphs before discussed Nietzsche's "ressentiment" and how it fosters popular support for both this kind of behaviour & authoritarianism in general.
We can't achieve political solutions like impeachment w/o addressing popular sentiment.
We can't achieve political solutions like impeachment w/o addressing popular sentiment.
While IMO there are definitely impeachable offenses, this article is about lack of political maturity and how it is rewarded by the "resentiment" of a large & alientated block of the voting public, who reward this
Impeachment is a political device, this article is about changing the political basis
Impeachment is a political device, this article is about changing the political basis
December 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
While IMO there are definitely impeachable offenses, this article is about lack of political maturity and how it is rewarded by the "resentiment" of a large & alientated block of the voting public, who reward this
Impeachment is a political device, this article is about changing the political basis
Impeachment is a political device, this article is about changing the political basis
Because this is a democracy, and "we" are the voters, and so "we" - through either active choice or indifference - have collectively *chosen* this.
Also, the entire second half of this article *is* a discussion about how to reverse this.
Also, the entire second half of this article *is* a discussion about how to reverse this.
December 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Because this is a democracy, and "we" are the voters, and so "we" - through either active choice or indifference - have collectively *chosen* this.
Also, the entire second half of this article *is* a discussion about how to reverse this.
Also, the entire second half of this article *is* a discussion about how to reverse this.
Seconding that I hope people take advantage of the gift link & actually *read* it - Anne Applebaum once posted internal bsky stats that even many who post replies don't actually CLICK the LINK 😞
Among many things, there is good advice here IMO on how we take back the politics of this country
Among many things, there is good advice here IMO on how we take back the politics of this country
December 1, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Seconding that I hope people take advantage of the gift link & actually *read* it - Anne Applebaum once posted internal bsky stats that even many who post replies don't actually CLICK the LINK 😞
Among many things, there is good advice here IMO on how we take back the politics of this country
Among many things, there is good advice here IMO on how we take back the politics of this country
NP, jsut couldn't resist. It's just an intellectual fascination of mine, the ways that genetics+archeology rewrites "homo" history.
Parallel to how books like Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century" and "The Dawn of Everything" has been breathing fresh life into intellectual debate about economics.
Parallel to how books like Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century" and "The Dawn of Everything" has been breathing fresh life into intellectual debate about economics.
December 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
NP, jsut couldn't resist. It's just an intellectual fascination of mine, the ways that genetics+archeology rewrites "homo" history.
Parallel to how books like Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century" and "The Dawn of Everything" has been breathing fresh life into intellectual debate about economics.
Parallel to how books like Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century" and "The Dawn of Everything" has been breathing fresh life into intellectual debate about economics.
Rhode Island was the "Hungary" of its day, many privately referred to it as "Rogue Island." But maybe US owes a debt to RI for making things so bad it forced change. But I fear that was only possible in 1787 because things were still fluid, & strong political credibility. Even then it took >5 years.
December 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Rhode Island was the "Hungary" of its day, many privately referred to it as "Rogue Island." But maybe US owes a debt to RI for making things so bad it forced change. But I fear that was only possible in 1787 because things were still fluid, & strong political credibility. Even then it took >5 years.
There's a loose corollary to US colonies 250 years ago. The original Articles of Confederation were similar in spirit to the EU, each state remained an independent "nation," any action required unanimity. The flaws were so bad by 1787 that political leadership sponsored the Constitutional Convention
December 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
There's a loose corollary to US colonies 250 years ago. The original Articles of Confederation were similar in spirit to the EU, each state remained an independent "nation," any action required unanimity. The flaws were so bad by 1787 that political leadership sponsored the Constitutional Convention
Good article, thanks, but it barely even *mentions* manufacturing and defense? It's mostly about interstate barriers to 1) services and 2) financial integrations?
December 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Good article, thanks, but it barely even *mentions* manufacturing and defense? It's mostly about interstate barriers to 1) services and 2) financial integrations?
OT, but since you brought it up☺️: there's a HUGE misconception about what Neandertals were & relationship to homo sapiens, fed by establishment bias among scientists in last couple centuries. Link to old but still popular lecture video below.
Denigrating Neandertals is akin to blaming immigrants ;)
Denigrating Neandertals is akin to blaming immigrants ;)
Are We the Last Neanderthals?
YouTube video by Chicago Humanities
www.youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
OT, but since you brought it up☺️: there's a HUGE misconception about what Neandertals were & relationship to homo sapiens, fed by establishment bias among scientists in last couple centuries. Link to old but still popular lecture video below.
Denigrating Neandertals is akin to blaming immigrants ;)
Denigrating Neandertals is akin to blaming immigrants ;)
"Look over here, at the silly, impractical thing I'll never act on! Don't look at the Epstein files, Venezuela, Witkoff & Russia, or the economy!"
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. *Please*?
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. *Please*?
November 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"Look over here, at the silly, impractical thing I'll never act on! Don't look at the Epstein files, Venezuela, Witkoff & Russia, or the economy!"
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. *Please*?
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. *Please*?
"Look over here, at the silly, impractical demand that I will not act on further! Not at the Epstein files, Witkoff & Russia, or the economy!"
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. Please?
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. Please?
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
"Look over here, at the silly, impractical demand that I will not act on further! Not at the Epstein files, Witkoff & Russia, or the economy!"
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. Please?
C'mon, let's stop playing into his game by repeating his TruthSocial crapposts here so everyone gets distracted from what really matters. Please?
Amen, but mitigating that a little: we still have to keep spending on some things, but when I do, I'm trying to concentrate it with pro-worker & admin pressure resisting retailers like Costco, while withholding as much as I can from appeasers/enablers like Amazon (which Wirecutter pushes hard)
Fighting back against anti-DEI attacks brings rewards. Just look at Costco.
Trump has gone hard against diversity, equity and inclusion programs in workplaces. Some companies, like Costco, Delta and Lush, show how to stand your ground.
corporateknights.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Amen, but mitigating that a little: we still have to keep spending on some things, but when I do, I'm trying to concentrate it with pro-worker & admin pressure resisting retailers like Costco, while withholding as much as I can from appeasers/enablers like Amazon (which Wirecutter pushes hard)
You are more generous than me, IMO you again give Trump (& Vance) credit for "good intentions" they don't deserve.
Chamberlain was no Nazi sympathizer, but trying to act in his country's best interests. IMO Trump & Vance are either/both actively aligned with Russia and/or antagonistic to Europe.
Chamberlain was no Nazi sympathizer, but trying to act in his country's best interests. IMO Trump & Vance are either/both actively aligned with Russia and/or antagonistic to Europe.
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
You are more generous than me, IMO you again give Trump (& Vance) credit for "good intentions" they don't deserve.
Chamberlain was no Nazi sympathizer, but trying to act in his country's best interests. IMO Trump & Vance are either/both actively aligned with Russia and/or antagonistic to Europe.
Chamberlain was no Nazi sympathizer, but trying to act in his country's best interests. IMO Trump & Vance are either/both actively aligned with Russia and/or antagonistic to Europe.
... although, caveat, that's 3 months old, so already partly out of date. There are more recent ones I know of, but all behind paywalls
November 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
... although, caveat, that's 3 months old, so already partly out of date. There are more recent ones I know of, but all behind paywalls
I think we are very much of the same mind here. In addition, I suspect some aspects of the future deals were always meant to be fiction - particularly the higher tranches of the AMD-OpenAI arrangeement (to hide an AMD stock giveaway w/ 1st tranche)
Here's a brief summary of where we are, IMO
Here's a brief summary of where we are, IMO
Big Tech's $400B AI Cap-Ex Boom: What It Means for Your Portfolio
AI infrastructure boom: Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet & Meta to invest $400B in 2025 data-center CapEx, sparking an arms race and fresh growth opportunities for investors.
8figures.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I think we are very much of the same mind here. In addition, I suspect some aspects of the future deals were always meant to be fiction - particularly the higher tranches of the AMD-OpenAI arrangeement (to hide an AMD stock giveaway w/ 1st tranche)
Here's a brief summary of where we are, IMO
Here's a brief summary of where we are, IMO
For 4 of 5 big spenders (GOOG, AMZN, MSFT, META) spend on CapEx still manageable, from avg of ~12% of rev to ~22% in 2025 (IIRC). Big jump, but not alarming. They've only *just* started tapping debt
ORCL does skew things when you lump them in though which is MAYBE what others here are reacting to?:
ORCL does skew things when you lump them in though which is MAYBE what others here are reacting to?:
Big 5 AI ‘hyperscalers’ have quadrupled their use of debt to fund operations, Bank of America says
All five companies generate more than enough cash to cover their operations, but the arrival of debt vehicles to fund AI has complicated the investment case for tech stocks.
finance.yahoo.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For 4 of 5 big spenders (GOOG, AMZN, MSFT, META) spend on CapEx still manageable, from avg of ~12% of rev to ~22% in 2025 (IIRC). Big jump, but not alarming. They've only *just* started tapping debt
ORCL does skew things when you lump them in though which is MAYBE what others here are reacting to?:
ORCL does skew things when you lump them in though which is MAYBE what others here are reacting to?:
OpenAI's plans for their own CapEX spending (build datacenters) are even more about the future NVDA & AMD deals)
Until now they have been primarily using Microsoft's Azure cloud resources, which they have access to in exchange for MSFT's equity stake. So yes, what I already said does apply to them
Until now they have been primarily using Microsoft's Azure cloud resources, which they have access to in exchange for MSFT's equity stake. So yes, what I already said does apply to them
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
OpenAI's plans for their own CapEX spending (build datacenters) are even more about the future NVDA & AMD deals)
Until now they have been primarily using Microsoft's Azure cloud resources, which they have access to in exchange for MSFT's equity stake. So yes, what I already said does apply to them
Until now they have been primarily using Microsoft's Azure cloud resources, which they have access to in exchange for MSFT's equity stake. So yes, what I already said does apply to them
Understood, and thanks for the reply. But may I ask, has your read of "good intentions" on the part of Rubio and Witkoff been diluted by reporting over the weekend that it's really Dmitriev and Kushner behind a lot of it, and Rubio's been (diplomatically) distancing himself from it?
How Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine shocked the world
Zelensky listened on speaker phone as Witkoff and Kushner read, line by line, from a 28-point plan.
www.axios.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Understood, and thanks for the reply. But may I ask, has your read of "good intentions" on the part of Rubio and Witkoff been diluted by reporting over the weekend that it's really Dmitriev and Kushner behind a lot of it, and Rubio's been (diplomatically) distancing himself from it?
You replied to the comment "the whole ai bubble is financed by huge debts" without any such disclaimer until now.
Why are you focusing on x.AI? They're a bit player in the approx $360b in AI capex spending in 2025, maybe about $12b, or 3%? (tough to know since a private company)
Why are you focusing on x.AI? They're a bit player in the approx $360b in AI capex spending in 2025, maybe about $12b, or 3%? (tough to know since a private company)
November 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
You replied to the comment "the whole ai bubble is financed by huge debts" without any such disclaimer until now.
Why are you focusing on x.AI? They're a bit player in the approx $360b in AI capex spending in 2025, maybe about $12b, or 3%? (tough to know since a private company)
Why are you focusing on x.AI? They're a bit player in the approx $360b in AI capex spending in 2025, maybe about $12b, or 3%? (tough to know since a private company)